Favorite Schools

Favorite Teams

Greater New Orleans

Change Region

comments

Inspector general to monitor Jefferson Parish hospital leasing

JP's new IG David McClintock

Inspector General David McClintock said Wednesday he will monitor the leasing of West Jefferson Medical Center and East Jefferson General Hospital, potentially the biggest and most important deal in Jefferson Parish government history.
(NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune archive)

Inspector General David McClintock said Wednesday he will monitor the leasing of West Jefferson Medical Center and East Jefferson General Hospital, potentially the biggest and most important deal in Jefferson Parish government history. His disclosure came as the public hospitals' governing boards are considering lease offers from Louisiana Children's Medical Center, Ochsner Health System and the Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA.

The Parish Council holds the ultimate authority on whether to lease the hospitals and to what entity. A recommendation was expected Aug. 13, when an umbrella board for both hospitals met in an all-day executive session, but the board adjourned without making a decision.

What happens next is not clear. But the council is expected to hold a special meeting on the matter soon.

McClintock would not detail how he plans to monitor the leasing process, including whether he hopes to observe any upcoming executive session meetings of the hospital boards or Parish Council. He said only that "to the extent we can make the process better, that's what we are going to do." He said he has no reason to think any mistakes have been made thus far.

"I'm not going to pin myself down," McClintock said. "It's best that everyone just stay fluid with it."

Sheriff Newell Normand, who chairs East Jefferson General Hospital, said discussions with McClintock have been occurring for a little more than a week. He said McClintock's involvement is welcome, and that the inspector general is free to attend executive sessions.

"Our expectation is that he intends to get involved at the present time," Normand said.